If you are planning a visit to Belfast, one question often comes up: what exactly were The Troubles? For more than three decades, Northern Ireland experienced a conflict that deeply shaped its society, especially Belfast. The consequences of this period can still be seen today in the city’s murals, neighbourhoods, Peace Walls, and many historic locations. Understanding The Troubles is essential to understanding Belfast: a city that went from being one of the main locations of

Every July, Belfast and many towns across Northern Ireland change dramatically. Streets are filled with flags, large wooden structures begin to appear in certain neighbourhoods, and thousands of people prepare for one of the most significant dates in the local calendar: the 12th of July, commonly known as The Twelfth. This period is often referred to as the 12th of July Northern Ireland celebrations. For many visitors, it comes as a surprise that a single date can have such a

When we think about the Titanic, most people immediately remember its tragic sinking in 1912. However, long before it became a maritime legend, RMS Titanic represented the industrial power and ambition of one city: Belfast. Here, at the Harland & Wolff shipyard, thousands of workers helped create one of the most famous ships in history. But the story of the Titanic is also the story of a city that was once one of the world’s leading centres of industry and shipbuilding. Today

Today, 5 May, remains a significant date in Belfast’s recent history. In 1981, after 66 days on hunger strike at the Maze Prison (also known as Long Kesh), Bobby Sands died. He would later become one of the most recognised and controversial figures of the Northern Ireland conflict. Today, when walking along Falls Road in West Belfast, one image appears again and again among the city’s political murals: the face of Bobby Sands. For visitors exploring this area, his mural is of

Walking through Belfast feels like stepping into a living history book. The city’s past is not only found in museums or historic buildings. It appears on its streets, in its neighbourhoods and, most famously, on its walls. The famous Belfast murals are much more than examples of street art. They are a way to understand Northern Ireland’s recent history, the identities of different communities and the legacy of a conflict that shaped the city for decades: The Troubles. For man

For more than three decades, Northern Ireland lived through one of the most complex conflicts in modern European history: the Troubles — A period that deeply shaped Belfast and the entire region. From the late 1960s until 1998, violence affected thousands of lives. Bombings, political divisions, military presence, segregated neighbourhoods and deep mistrust between communities became part of everyday reality in cities like Belfast. The conflict mainly involved two communities